Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshios Acharei Mos-Kedoshim

As Rabbi Frand did not deliver his live shiur this evening, I am reproducing a summary of some of thoughts he said over on the parshios in 2023. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.

The first vort R' Frand said related to the death of Nadav & Avihu. He quoted the Da'as Zekeinim M'Baalei HaTosafos which asked  - why is it that they died by being burnt internally, while Titus HaRasha went into the Kodesh HaKodashim in peace and left in peace?

Before answering the question, the Da'as Zekeinim quoted a pasuk (I am unfamiliar with its source) which states that the Bachurim were consumed by fire and the Besulos were not praised. The Bachurim are a reference to Nadav & Avihu - why did they die, because they did not praise the Besulos. How many young girls remained like agunos, waiting for Nadav & Avihu. Meanwhile they said, our uncle is the king, our father is the Kohain Gadol, another uncle is the Nasi and we are the Sganei Kohain Gadol - no girls are good enough for us....and they died without children.

R' Frand said that he is involved in Shidduchim and he sees how many boys and girls will go many years in the parsha of dating and will never find the right mate, because they are too selective. Similarly many parents will feel that no potential candidate is good enough for their child.

R' Frand said that he once spoke with the Skveir Rebbi about this and was told that the boys and girls need to cut their lists to one or two items. He said that for his children there is only one thing - they should marry a "Rebbishe Einikle."

R' Frand observed that we live in a generation where anything can be optimized (my word). He does not visit Starbucks, but he knows that you can get a coffee with many different infusions and options. Similarly when you buy a car there are so many options and choices.

With that mindset on customization, is it any surprise that those in the parsha have lists that are so long?

R' Frand said a second vort on Vayikra 16:18 which states וְיָצָ֗א אֶל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַ אֲשֶׁ֥ר לִפְנֵֽי־יְהוָֹ֖ה וְכִפֶּ֣ר עָלָ֑יו. Rashi explains that the Kapparah being performed was the taking of the blood of the cow.

R' Frand quoted the Targum Yonasan Ben Uziel who cites the Gemara which discusses the prayer of the Kohain Gadol at the time. He would pray three things: (1) that the king would always be from the tribe of Yehuda; (2) the Jews would need to rely on one and other for financial support, and (3) that Hashem should not heed the prayer of those passing on the roads. The specific prayer of the passersby was that there should not be any rain which would make the roads muddy.

Buy why did this third item need to occupy the Kohain Gadol at the time that he was praying for much more loftier things?

R' Frand quoted the Sefer Bei Chiya which quotes the Divrei Yechezkel who comments on the pasuk (again I am unaware of the source) - far from my yeshua is what I am crying out for. He explains that people cry out for things that are not good for them and the reason their prayers are not answered is because they are asking for things that are not important.

This is the prayer of the passerby - asking on Yom Kippur that there be no rain so that the roads are not muddy during their travels? The Kohain Gadol in turn asks Hashem not to listen to the short sighted prayers by people for the trivialities they don't really need.

[Although not said by R' Frand, it appears to me that the two thoughts are linked. If only those in the parsha were not preoccupied by trivialities, maybe they would find their intended so much quicker].

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Thursday Parsha Tidbits - Parshios Tazria-Metzorah

The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parshios this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.

Rabbi Frand began the parsha section of his shiur by noting that although Parshas Tazria is mostly a discussion of the laws of Tzara'as, it first contains a discussion of laws relating to childbirth and the Tumah related to the childbirth. 

Why is there Tumah? Because when someone is on a high level and then they lose that status, Tumah sets in. When a woman is pregnant, she is a creator. After the baby is born, she loses that status and becomes Tamei. R' Frand quoted the Avnei Nezer who says the same thing about Tumas Meis - when a person is alive he has Kedushah, but after death, Tumah sets in.

The laws of Yoledes include that a woman must bring a Chatas afterwards. Why? The Gemara in Niddah teaches that when a woman is in the pain of childbirth, the woman swears that she won't have any more children and won't have anything to do with her husband again. But the maternal instinct causes her to forget this as she wants to have more children. Since she will violate her "oath" she brings a Chatas.

But what is the connection between a Yoledes and a Metzorah? 

R' Frand quoted the Sefer Arzei HaParsha who notes the common ground between the Yoledes and the Metzorah - they both underestimated the power of speech. The woman swore that she would not do this again, but words have impact and an oath is an oath. The Metzorah also did not contemplate what words can do - they can ruin livelihoods or families or futures. This is why they are in the same Parsha - because speech separates us from animals and we need to be careful about speech.

R' Frand quoted a story in the Sefer which was repeated from the Igros Moshe. In 1921, R' Moshe was the Rav in Luban, Russia. There was a Jew who was very ill and was near death from the swelling of his tongue. R' Moshe visited the man and the man asked everyone to leave. The man then told R' Moshe - I know why this is happening, because I spoke Lashon Harah. Last Shabbos we read Parshas Vayera which includes the story of Lot and his daughters. I said how disgusting is this - that they named their children Amon and Moav, as an eternal denigration for their father. 

That night the man had a dream where he saw two women whose faces were covered. The women were Lot's daughters. They told him that the reason that they did this was to demonstrate that the only way that children can be born is from a man. And if in the future there is a religion that recognizes a son of G-d, we need to demonstrate that children only come from a man and a woman.

The man said to R' Moshe - this is why he was suffering. And when he finished the story, he turned over and died.

R' Frand said a second vort related to the process of a Metzorah becoming Tahor. R' Frand noted that the sacrifices for the Metzorah are different than any other sacrifice. Every sacrifice of a living creature requires a Shechita of some kind, but for the Metzorah, one bird is slaughtered, then the blood is sprinkled on the second bird and then the second bird is sent away. 

Why is the second bird sent away?

The Sfas Emes quotes the Zohar which states that Tzaraas comes as a result of Lashon Harah. But there are two aspects of this - speaking Lashon Harah and refraining from saying good words when they come to his mind.

One bird is killed - which is symbolic of the bad words that people speak. But the second bird is sent away as a Kapparah for not speaking good words when you could have done so.

R' Frand said that the easiest Chessed you can do for someone is to say something nice. It doesn't cost you a dime, but it can make a world of difference. R' Frand gave the example of going over to a Ba'al Tefillah after davening and telling him how much you enjoyed the Tefillah. 

R' Frand told a story about a young woman who was perhaps just back from seminary and while sitting in her car in Monsey, she saw a teacher that she had in sixth grade. She went over to the teacher and told her - you taught me how to write English. When I applied to seminary I wrote an essay and that's what got me into seminary and I very much appreciate that I learned this from you.

The teacher wrote a letter to the girl's parents and told them how much she appreciated the conversation, She had been approached by the school before Pesach and they asked her to let them know by Pesach whether she wanted to teach the following year.  The teacher said that she had decided that she was going to tell the school that she would not be returning as she had been teaching for 37 years and she was tired. [R' Frand said as an aside that every year the teachers get older but the students stay the same age and the gap keeps growing. When he started giving shiur he was 7-8 years older than the students, but now he is 50-60 years older].

As a result of the short conversation with the girl, the teacher reconsidered retirement and told the school that she would return. How many more students were positively impacted because of that four minute conversation! This is why the Metozrah needs a Kapparah for not engaging in positive speech.

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Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Tzav

Due to this being the last Thursday before Pesach there was no live Rabbi Frand shiur on the Parsha. However R' Frand did post a pre-recorded Parsha vort on OU Torah which I have summarized here. This week's vort can be found at https://outorah.org/p/250048, but I have attempted to reproduce the vort to the best of my ability in this post.  Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to the maggid shiur.

R' Frand observed that in Parshas Tzav there is one sacrifice that is not mentioned in Parshas Vayikra - the Karban Todah. Rashi explains that this sacrifice is brought when a miracle occurs and a person wants to thank Hashem for the miracle. There are four examples mentioned in the Gemara as brought by Rashi - a person who recovers from an illness; a person who is released from prison; a person who had survived a sea voyage, or a person who survives a trip across the desert.

R' Frand remarked that although these people were in an element of danger, they did not experience a miracle like the ten plagues or the splitting of the Yam Suf.  But as the Ramban states - there are miracles that happen every day, when a person is in danger and Hashem saves them, even without them realizing. In fact the Ramban states explicitly that a person who does not believe in hidden miracles has no portion in the Torah of Moshe Rabbeinu. Many times things happen or don't happen, which don't defy nature, but they are still miracles. Anything can happen on a sea voyage and the fact that the person survived, is a hidden miracle.

But why is this in Parshas Tzav which is meant as instruction for Kohanim and not in Parshas Vayikra where it would be applicable to every Jew? R' Frand quoted R' Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld who explains that the Kohanim need to hear about recognizing the hidden miracles, because they work in the Beis HaMikdash where they are surrounded by miracles - the fire came down from Shamyaim, there were never any flies, the Lechem HaPanim was always hot and fresh. The Kohanim might not be cognizant or appreciative of a hidden miracle such as being healed from an illness, therefore they specifically need to be advised of the concept of hidden miracles.

R' Frand remarked that the reason that the Ramban is mentioned in Parshas Bo and not here, is because this is what Yitziyas Mitzrayim was about - Hashem does not make open miracles daily, but He does perform hidden miracles all the time. If we can see the open miracles and recognize Hashem's dominion, we should similarly be able to realize that He performs hidden miracles on a daily basis. And if we don't have those daily miracles, we would not exist.

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Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Vayikra

The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.

R' Frand noted that although Parshas Vaykira begins with a description of bringing a cow as a sacrifice in Vayikra 1:2, the Torah does not state where it should be slaughtered. Instead, in its discussion of bring a sacrifice from sheep/goats in Vayikra 1:11, the Torah states וְשָׁחַ֨ט אֹת֜וֹ עַ֣ל יֶ֧רֶךְ הַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַ צָפֹ֖נָה. R' Frand quoted the Meshech Chochma who asks, why does the Torah wait for the description of the location for slaughtering until the discussion of the sheep?

R' Frand then digressed to the discussion in Parshas Pinchas of the sacrifice of the Tamid. He quoted the Shulchan Aruch who says that a person should always try to say Parshas HaTamid every day. But in saying the Parshas HaTamid, the section ends with Vayikra 1:11 - וְשָׁחַ֨ט אֹת֜וֹ עַ֣ל יֶ֧רֶךְ הַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַ צָפֹ֖נָה. Why is this mentioned in conjunction with the Tamid?

R' Frand quoted a Medrash which states that when a person reads Vayikra 1:11 - it reminds Hashem of Akeidas Yitzchak. And Hashem states upon hearing the pasuk that anyone who recites the pasuk - man, woman, Jew or non-Jew, reminds Me of Akeidas Yitzchak. 

The Maharil Diskin explains the Medrash by noting that Avraham first binds Yitzchak to the altar because he is concerned that Yitzchak might jump and disqualify the slaughter. The angel then tells Avraham not to slaughter Yitzchak. A normal father would then take his son and run away. But Avraham does not do this. Instead he looks for another animal and finds one. But after finding the ram, he does not untie Yitzchak, rather he leaves Yitzchak on top of the altar and he slaughters the ram on the side of the Mizbeasch. Because he is concerned that maybe there will be an issue with the ram and he will need to use Yitzchak.

The Meshech Chachma explains based on this Medrash that the reason that the location is only mentioned by sheep and not cows, because its derived from Avraham who brought the sacrifice on the side of the Mizbeach because Yitzchak was on top of the altar. This selfless act of remaining at the site with his son on the altar while he looked for the ram became part of our spiritual DNA. Based on this, a Jew will act with Mesiras Nefesh when serving Hashem. This is why Hashem wants us to invoke that Zechus when we say Parshas HaTamid, because this is the source and now its a part of each of us.

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Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshios Vaykhel Pikudei

The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parshios this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.

R' Frand remarked that when first viewing Vayakhel & Pikudei, one might think that it is a review of the prior Parshios of Terumah, Tezaveh and Ki Sissa. The Ramban asks - why are these concepts repeated? The Ramban answers with a practical example - if someone gives you a gift, you may go to many others to tell them about the wonderful gift you received. So too, Hashem says about the Jews - they were slaves who just left Egypt and they built Me this amazing architectural structure. This is why there is a seeming repetition.

However, there are additional aspects of these Parshios that are important as they tell us how to construct the implements and objects in the Mishkan. But why do we need instruction as to how to build the Mishkan? We know that in the future, the third Beis HaMikdash will come down from Shamayim fully constructed.

R' Frand answered that there are lessons which can be learned from how the Mishkan was constructed. We learn in Parshas Terumah that the curtains (Yerios) were draped over the Mishkan. Rashi explains that the beautiful wood with silver sockets were covered with hides, because we don't show off our possessions.

R' Frand said as an aside that Dubai is now being attacked by Iran, and Dubai is a place where if you've got it, flaunt it. This is the opposite to the Derech HaTorah as your possessions are for you and not your neighbors.

R' Frand quoted a Pasuk from Shir HaShirim about entering the nut garden. Rashi asks why are the Jews compared to nuts? Because a nut looks like wood and you don't know what is inside. But when you crack it open, you see delicious food. So too the Jews, they are modest in the way that they act, they are private without seeking to attract attention. The Talmidei Chachachim are similarly modest and they don't brag about what they know.

R' Frand told a story about R' Henkin and the Chazon Ish were the anteroom of a Gadol [R' Frand said that he believes that it may be R' Chaim Ozer]. R' Henkin did not know the Chazon Ish and he asked him about himself. The Chazon Ish said, I have a store. Do you learn? Yes, when I get a chance. [R' Frand quipped that the response was accurate as the Chazon Ish learned whenever he had a chance]. R' Henkin then observed how R' Chaim Ozer was treating the Chazon Ish and he was amazed at the Kavod being shown. This is the meaning of the Rashi and a lesson that we learn from the Mishkan - don't flaunt it.

R' Frand said a second thought on the Parsha, specifically the Pasuk in Shemos 38:24 - כָּל־הַזָּהָ֗ב הֶֽעָשׂוּי֙ לַמְּלָאכָ֔ה בְּכֹ֖ל מְלֶ֣אכֶת הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ. The Pasuk then gives a summary of all the gold that was collected. R' Frand quoted the Chida in his Sefer Chomas Anach where he quoted R' Vital HaTsarfati who explained this Pasuk by stating that the comma belonged after לַמְּלָאכָ֔ה - that gold was created just for the Mishkan and the world would have been fine without it. But gold was created many generations before the Mishkan just so that it would be available for its use.

R' Frand quoted R' Aryeh Leib Guerwitz who stated that printing had become easier in his generation so that people can be Marbitz Torah. Similarly, the Chofetz Chaim once said that the train was invented so that Bochurim could come to Yeshiva instead of walking or travelling by horse. This is why the Yeshivos give vacation for Chodesh Nissan, because it took so long to get home for Pesach.

R' Frand said that technology today (while dangerous) allows people to learn so much than they did in prior generations. R' Frand quoted R' Schwalb at a Daf Yomi Siyum many years ago where he exclaimed that - today you can hear Daf Yomi on the telephone. And now you can learn Daf Yomi on your Ipad or phone. There are no excuses not to learn, be it in the car or in the doctor's office. So use technology for good and don't abuse it.

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Thursday's Parsha Tidbits - Parshas Ki Sissa

The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts said over by R' Frand on the parsha this evening. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.

In Shemos 31:12-17, the Torah gives the laws of Shabbos. This is juxtaposed right before the instructions for the building of the Mishkan. The Gemara teaches the reason that Shabbos is mentioned here is so that we can learn the Melachos of Shabbos based on the tasks the Jews performed to build the Mishkan.

R' Frand noted that in these pesukim there is a repetition in that in 31:14 the Torah states וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם֙ אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת, and then after instructing in 31:15 that work should be performed for six days and rest on the Shabbos, the Torah states again in 31:16 וְשָֽׁמְר֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת לַֽעֲשׂ֧וֹת אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּ֛ת לְדֹֽרֹתָ֖ם בְּרִ֥ית עוֹלָֽם. Why is there a repetition of the root in these two pesukim?

R' Frand quoted the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh who links this to a pasuk in Bereishis 37:11 - וַיְקַנְאוּ־ב֖וֹ אֶחָ֑יו וְאָבִ֖יו שָׁמַ֥ר אֶת־הַדָּבָֽר - that Ya'akov was waiting and anticipating what the brothers would do after Yosef told his brothers about his dream. In connection with Shabbos, we are instructed that we should want and anticipate Shabbos and look forward it. This is why when we count the days of the week in the Shir Shel Yom we say its the _ day B'Shabbos.

R' Frand mentioned that when he was growing up there was no Shabbos cereal and no Pirchei and little to look forward to for Shabbos. It was only as he got older that he would look forward to it. R' Frand suggested that we do what we can to make it something that the children look forward to (with apologies to the dentists).

R' Frand quoted the Sefer Arzei HaParsha who connected this to the Shabbos Zemer "Kol Mekadesh" where we sing "HaMecharim Latzes Min Shabbos U'Meharrim Lavo" - loosely translated as we praise those who push off the exit of Shabbos and are quick to bring it in. The Satmar Rebbi remarks that this appears backwards - first you bring it in and then you push off its departure? He answers that on a Friday when you walk in and smell the Shabbos food, you may really want those dishes and you want Shabbos to come in early to allow access to the food. This not rushing Shabbos in to show you love it. Instead the test is do you not want it to leave, or do you go to the earliest Maariv? And what is the first thing that you do when Shabbos leaves? Do you look at your cell phone? If you push off its exit then you can also show that you really want it to come in.

R' Frand also talked about the name Shalosh Seudos as opposed to Seudah Shlishi. We call it Shalosh Seudos because the first meal you look forward to any want to eat it because you are famished. And then when you come home from Shul on Shabbos after a 3 hr davening, you again are starving. But on a short winter Shabbos if you eat Shalosh Seudos, you show that you desire the Shabbos meals for Shabbos' sake.

R' Frand connected this with a story about a bochur in Europe who was staying with a family for Shabbos. On a Friday afternoon, slightly after noon, the wife was very antsy and waiting uncomfortably for her husband to come home. When he finally did arrive, she was still upset. The Bochur had the temerity to ask why. She told him that they had a difficult time conceiving and they asked the Chofetz Chaim what to do. He told them, make sure that the table is set and the house is ready and the husband is home, by Chatzos on Friday.

The couple did as he instructed and the woman was Zoche to have a child. They then went back to the Chofetz Chaim and said - you are a Navi. He said that he was not, but they asked - how would you know this would work? He responded that its based on a pasuk וְשָֽׁמְר֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת לַֽעֲשׂ֧וֹת אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּ֛ת לְדֹֽרֹתָ֖ם בְּרִ֥ית עוֹלָֽם - you need to anticipate Shabbos and want it to be here already. But what does this have to with children? The pasuk says that if you do this, it will be לְדֹֽרֹתָ֖ם בְּרִ֥ית עוֹלָֽם. And the only way that it can be לְדֹֽרֹתָ֖ם בְּרִ֥ית עוֹלָֽם is with children - if you long for it, there will be children.

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